Convention marketing shift moves forward

San Diego  The contract that allows the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau to have marketing control of the Convention Center was approved Tuesday, but not without questions raised about how protected the city will be if the proposed expansion does not go through.

The City Council approved shifting $3.1 million in annual convention center funds to the hotel industry-dominated ConVis in March amid concerns from labor unions.

The current convention center staff that has been responsible for marketing for the past seven years will retain their duties only for events planned less than 18 months in advance.

Councilwoman Marti Emerald said she was concerned about the fate of the contract if the planned $520 million expansion does not go through.

Emerald sought to add a clause that would terminate the contract if the expansion is not approved.

“If we expand the convention center, we need to step up our game, but if it is not approved then this contract should terminate,” she said. “This is a public asset and we want the public to manage it long-term.”

The council did not add the clause to the contract, but added a stipulation that the city auditor report on ConVis’ performance twice a year after the first two years of the four-year contract are completed.

Councilman Kevin Faulconer said approval of the contract was critically important to retaining conventions and getting new ones.

“We are talking about maximizing revenue and jobs, both short term and long term,” he said.

The contract was approved 5-2 with Emerald and Councilman David Alvarez voting against it. Council President Tony Young was absent from the meeting.